National, March 30: Noted Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee died on March 29 after drowning in the sea during a film shoot in Talsari, Odisha. The 42-year-old reportedly fell overboard while boating and was later declared dead at a nearby hospital, according to initial reports.
The incident occurred after the day’s शूट, when Banerjee is said to have gone towards the water alone. Eyewitness accounts and statements from co-actor Diganta Bagchi suggest he may have become entangled in something underwater, leading to the drowning. Crew members rushed to his aid and transported him to Digha State General Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. Authorities have initiated formal procedures, while the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.
Born on October 16, 1983, in Kolkata, Banerjee rose to prominence with his breakthrough performance in the 2008 film Chirodini Tumi Je Amar. He went on to feature in several films, including Love Circus, Shono Mon Boli Tomay, Na Hannyate, and Kagojer Bou, alongside appearances in television and web productions such as Sahaj Katha. His personal life also drew public attention, including his marriage to actor Priyanka Sarkar; the couple separated in 2017 before reuniting in 2023.
The incident has sparked discussion due to perceived similarities with the death of Assam music icon Zubeen Garg, whose demise in September 2025 was later ruled an accidental drowning by a Singapore court. In its findings delivered by State Coroner Adam Nakhoda, the court stated that Garg’s death involved no foul play and resulted from an unfortunate accident, dismissing earlier suspicions.
Adding to the coincidence, one of Garg’s popular Bengali songs, Piya Re Piya Re, featured in Chirodini Tumi Je Amar, the film that marked Banerjee’s breakthrough. The overlap has drawn attention across entertainment circles.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed grief over the actor’s death, describing it as a shocking and deeply saddening loss. She extended condolences to his family and admirers, stating that his sudden passing marks an irreparable loss to the Bengali entertainment industry.
